Over 500 Officials in County Report Past Year’s Incomes, Gifts

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury boards his quarter horse, Vamanos, for free at a friend’s Ojai ranch and declares it each year as a $1,000 gift.

Supervisor Maggie Erickson Kildee reported receiving about $2,500 worth of wedding gifts from county residents last year, including Amherst place settings, pewter bowls and crystal goblets.

Moonlighting Municipal Court judges earned between $250 and $1,000 for performing weddings last year, while a few Superior Court judges reported salaries of more than $10,000 for teaching at Ventura College of Law.

The disclosures were made public Wednesday as more than 500 elected officials and top government employees countywide filed statements of economic interest required by state law.

Public officials must make the annual disclosures to reveal income from business ventures, real estate, stock and other investments outside of official government salaries, as well as any gifts received in the past year.

The purpose of the annual disclosures, County Clerk Richard D. Dean said, is to keep government honest.

“You would think people would be acutely aware of what is ethical and what is unethical, but they just aren’t,” said Dean, whose office collects the files. “If they are working for, or have taken income from, anyone who is a potential conflict of interest, it must be disclosed.”

Most of the disclosures made by Ventura County’s elected officials involved income from investments and rental property.

Supervisor Vicky Howard disclosed income of more than $10,000 annually from each of three rental properties that she owns in Simi Valley, along with a $40 Christmas tree and a $25 wreath that she received in December from Boething Tree Farm.

Superior Court Judge James M. McNally disclosed his interest in a limited partnership that owns Salton Vista Vineyards, and Judge William L. Peck listed joint ownership in four apartment complexes and one motel.

Dean said judges could face a conflict if they preside over a trial involving parties with whom they share a financial interest. “My guess is that sort of thing would come up every now and then, and that they would most likely disqualify themselves.”

The financial disclosure forms also require officials to list their spouses’ income and financial holdings.

Supervisor Susan K. Lacey listed her husband Edward J. Lacey’s income from Conflict Defense Associates--an organization that represents defendants who do not qualify for public defenders--and has on several occasions removed herself from a Board of Supervisors discussion of the group.

State law also requires City Council members to report gifts and outside income.

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton and Councilman Michael Piper, who was appointed to the council in December, co-own two condominiums in the city, records show. Stratton also owns stock in Integrated Telemanagement Services, of which Piper is vice president. The company sells long-distance telephone service to customers in and outside of Simi Valley.

City Atty. John Torrance said a resident sent a letter to his office shortly after Piper was appointed expressing concern about a possible conflict of interest involving the mayor and the new council member.

But Torrance said that after checking with the Fair Political Practices Commission he determined that there was no conflict. But, he said, state guidelines prohibit officials from voting on projects that are in close proximity to their properties or on issues that might affect the properties. Since Piper’s appointment, Torrance said, there has only been one instance where the two have had to abstain from voting on a zoning issue.

Thousand Oaks council members Alex Fiore, Robert E. Lewis and Frank Schillo all received $75 Christmas gifts from the Beverly Hills-based Shappell Industries, which is building 1,400 houses and apartments and an industrial park on the former MGM Ranch.

Fiore, a retiree, reported receiving $375 worth of food, a meal and a ticket to a golf tournament. Lewis disclosed that he received $275 worth of movie tickets and food.

Schillo reported that he owns a one-third share of four rental houses in Thousand Oaks, valued at between $10,000 and $100,000.

In Oxnard, most elected officials reported real estate investments as their greatest source of income.

Mayor Nao Takasugi disclosed that he earned more than $10,000 in rental income from properties on Vineyard Avenue. Councilman Manuel Lopez, an optometrist, reported that he owns all or a portion of six properties in Oxnard, including the professional building on B Street where his office is located. He reported rental income of more than $10,000 from both office buildings and less than $10,000 from two other properties.

Councilwoman Dorothy Maron disclosed that she owns a share of a commercial property in Buena Park leased by Bank of America for more than $10,000 a year, and an investment portfolio valued between $25,000 and $250,000.

Councilwoman Geraldine Furr disclosed that she received a combined rental income of at least $11,000 from two Oxnard residential properties she owns with her husband.

Also contributing to this story were Times staff writers Carlos V. Lozano and Psyche Pascual, and Times correspondent Patrick McCartney.

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